Yay, lots of reviews! Made my day :)

I know this chapter's been a bit slow in coming, but I had a bit of trouble writing it (this is actually the second version of this chapter). Please don't get too annoyed when I don't update, though…I'm still in high school, and schoolwork can get pretty hectic. (I know some of you are curious about my age, so there you go. I'm also a Pisces and have a condition called brachydactyly Type D, in case you were wondering.)

Disclaimer: I have very few possessions; Mai-Hime is not one of them.

"Did you know my sister?"

Natsuki tried to duck the question. "I guess you can say that."

Shizuru tilted her head in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Fuuka Academy is a big school."

"It's a simple 'yes' or 'no' question, Natsuki." Shizuru looked amused.

"We weren't friends, if that's what you're asking." Natsuki tried deflecting.

"It's not; I'm asking if you knew her."

"Not in the biblical sense." Natsuki found it a mixed blessing that Shizuru wasn't just another pretty face. On one hand, hey, you could actually hold a conversation with the girl! On the other hand, good luck trying to trick her, because she's as smart as she is beautiful.

"Good." Shizuru's eyes glimmered possessively. "I'd hate to be a repeat."

"Sibling rivalry?" Natsuki placed a light kiss on Shizuru's neck.

"You could say that." Shizuru lightly pushed Natsuki away. "I thought we were going to lay down some rules."

"Later. Less talking, more action."

Shizuru pushed Natsuki into a chair and straddled her before thoroughly kissing her. After a moment, Shizuru separated her mouth from Natsuki's to look down on a dazed Natsuki. "Now?"

Natsuki tried to come back from dreamland. "Whatever you want."

Shizuru rested her elbows on Natsuki's shoulders. "As exciting as sneaking around in empty classrooms can be, it's not the best way to treat a girl."

Natsuki made a quick recovery. "Oh, so you're more of a wine-and-dine type of girl?"

"Absolutely. I'm also a sucker for compliments and disgustingly romantic gestures, but I think the school administration might have a problem with that."

"Ravishing a student is definitely not part of the class curriculum. I don't know how to label this thing between us, but we should probably try to tell as few people as possible about it."

"And here I was, thinking of telling Chie. I suppose that's a bad idea?"

"The worst." Natsuki shuddered.

"Ara, I wonder what I should say if someone becomes jealous of Natsuki hogging all my attention."

"You can say we have tutoring sessions outside of school."

"And what would these tutoring sessions entail?" Shizuru lifted an eyebrow.

"Kissing?" Natsuki offered. She furrowed her brow at the crestfallen expression on Shizuru's face. "What's the matter?"

Shizuru looked heartbroken. "Natsuki thinks I'm a bad kisser? That I need to be tutored on how to kiss?"

"What? No! That's not what I meant!" Natsuki grew flustered at Shizuru's wounded look. Wait—was that a tear? "You're a fantastic kisser! I've never met anyone as good as you—"

She was cut off by a short kiss. "Natsuki's not so bad herself, even if she does talk too much."

Natsuki blinked at the mischievous expression on Shizuru's face. "What—Shizuru!"

Shizuru grinned. "Less talking, more action."

Natsuki couldn't argue with that.

"Natsuki! Wake up, you lazy bum!"

Natsuki rolled over in her bed and covered her head with her pillow. Why oh why did Mai insist on shrieking in the apartment so early in the morning?

Natsuki yelped when she felt the mattress tip. She landed on the floor with a painful thump. She glared at her roommate. "You know, today's Saturday. Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you right now for waking me up so early."

"Eleven o'clock is not early, and Nao is coming over for lunch." Mai said cheerfully.

"That's a terrible reason. Wake me when she leaves." Natsuki turned over and prepared to sleep on the floor.

"Your mom's coming too, by the way." Mai left the room in anticipation of the impending storm.

"…WHAT?" Blankets flew up in the air.

Natsuki frantically scanned her room for an escape route. Out the window? No, too high—it would be hard to escape with a broken ankle. Into the bathroom? No, it would be pointless to hide behind clear shower curtains and she sure as hell couldn't flush herself down the toilet.

Natsuki's eyes landed on the apartment-regulation fire extinguisher Mai had insisted on buying. A crafty gleam entered green eyes. Her mother couldn't come over for lunch if there were no lunch to offer, could she?

30 seconds later:

"Natsuki, why are you pointing the fire extinguisher at our lunch—AHH! ARE YOU INSANE?"

"The only insane one here is you, for inviting my mother!"

"I'm going to kill you!"

The sound of frantic scrambling towards the door was heard. The door was wrenched open by desperate hands before the fugitive was stopped rather abruptly by an unanticipated obstacle.

"Ow! Watch where you're going, asshole!"

"Get out of the fucking way, Nao!"

A throat cleared. "Language, Natsuki."

"…Oh hey, Mom. Fancy seeing you here."

-000-000-

Saeko's hazel eyes sparkled at the redhead sitting across from her. "Mai, dear, we didn't have to go out for lunch. I would have enjoyed eating whatever you had made."

"It's no problem, Saeko." Mai brushed off the older woman's concern. "Besides, Natsuki's paying." She glared at the younger Kuga sitting next to her.

Nao slapped her menu shut and gave the waitress a devious grin. "In that case, I'll have one of everything, please."

"Make that two," Saeko chimed in cheerfully.

Natsuki groaned. "What part of poor, starving university student do you people not understand?"

Nao smirked. "Hey, I'm starving, too. Why do you think I ordered so much?"

"Nao, I know that double chin of yours makes it hard for you to talk, but you need to speak up. I can barely hear you."

"Oh, sorry. I said, 'Fuck you.'"

"You two can argue after I find out what's been going on in your lives. After Natsuki so cruelly cut her own mother out of her life, I've been hard pressed to find out news. Private investigators aren't cheap, you know." Saeko sighed dramatically.

"Can't you use a phone like a normal mother?" Natsuki scowled.

"Key word is normal, darling. So Mai," Saeko switched her attention to Natsuki's roommate. "What have you been up to? Still going to become a chef?"

"Yeah, I recently got hired as an assistant chef to a pretty good restaurant." Mai admitted uncharacteristically shyly.

Saeko beamed at the redhead before looking at the other redhead. "And how's law school treating you, Nao? Did you finally meet someone who's as good with words as you are?"

"You mean someone who bullshits as much as she does?" Natsuki asked dryly.

"Did anyone ask you?" Nao scowled at Natsuki before smiling beatifically at Saeko. "I'm doing great, thanks for asking."

Saeko pretended to wipe away a tear. "My babies, becoming celebrity chefs and hot-shot lawyers. I'm so proud!"

"Are you done prying into my friends' lives?" Natsuki asked her mother dryly. She rolled her eyes when Nao piped up, "We're friends?"

Saeko sipped her coffee. "Yes, and now it's time to pry into yours. Mai, what secrets have my daughter been hiding from me?"

Natsuki interrupted, "Don't answer that, Mai."

"Actually—"

"Shut it, Nao."

Saeko scowled. Mai and Nao gaped at her; the similarity between Saeko and Natsuki became frighteningly apparent with that infamous scowl.

"I'm going to the restroom. When I return, I expect a full report." Saeko left the table.

Natsuki immediately stood up when her mother was out of sight. "Let's go, there's no time to waste!"

"Go where?" Mai asked placidly, not even looking at her roommate.

"We have to leave before my mother comes back!"

"Go ahead, no one's stopping you." Nao waved dismissively at Natsuki. "I plan to stay here and talk with a very lovely lady whom I have not spoken to for a long time."

Natsuki sputtered at the betrayal. Mai grinned up at her. "You can drop the act; I know you missed her, too."

"Sit your ass down, Kuga. I was there when you threatened Saeko's last ex-boyfriend with permanent paralysis when he wouldn't leave her alone. Face it, you're a mama's girl."

"Whatever." Natsuki reclaimed her seat and leaned in towards Nao and Mai. "By the way, don't mention Shizuru in front of my mother. She might recognize the name Fujino and connect it to Shiori, and I don't want her to know what I'm planning to do."

"Sure, sure." Mai agreed easily.

Saeko chose that time to slide into her seat with a pleased expression. "A young man just got asked me for my number."

Natsuki, Nao, and Mai turned to look at where Saeko was gesturing. A handsome young man at another table winked in their direction. Natsuki's jaw dropped; he looked barely older than she was.

"Holy shit, cradle-snatching's genetic!" Nao blurted out.

Natsuki whipped around and gave Nao a death stare. The redhead had the decency to look chagrined. Saeko looked confused. "He's younger than the men I'm used to dating, but when you say it's genetic…" Saeko trailed off in realization. She looked pointedly at her daughter. "Natsuki, are you seeing someone? Someone younger?"

"No!" Natsuki wilted when Saeko raised her eyebrow. "Maybe! But I only met her a few days ago, and she's not that young!"

"Exactly how young is young?"

Natsuki coughed out, "Seventeen."

Saeko blinked. "Oh, okay. What's her name?"

"Shizuru." Natsuki began to sweat.

"I assume she also has a last name." Saeko frowned. "Unless she's one of those mail-order brides?"

"Mom! No!"

"It's as if she's reading our minds to find out exactly what questions we don't want her to ask," Nao whispered to Mai.

"And whose fault is that?" Mai hissed back.

"It's Fujino." Natsuki answered her mother reluctantly.

A look of intense concentration appeared on Saeko's face. Natsuki and Mai waited for Saeko's outburst with bated breath while Nao checked out their waitress's ass.

After a few tense seconds, Saeko gave head a little shake. "Sorry, I thought I felt a sneeze coming. Anyways, Shizuru Fujino is a lovely name. Is she any relation to the socialite family of the same name?"

Natsuki nearly collapsed in relief. "I have no idea."

Saeko's cell phone rang, sparing Natsuki from the intense inquisition that was sure to come.

Natsuki shot her friends a look that begged for help while Saeko talked on the phone. They shrugged helplessly.

Natsuki's savior turned out to be the person on the phone. "I have to go; one of my clients needs help picking out new curtains." Saeko rolled her eyes before planting a kiss on everyone's cheek. "I'll talk to you later, girls. And when I mean 'later', I don't mean two weeks later, Natsuki. Bring your girlfriend over for dinner sometime; I want to meet her."

Saeko waved and left the café in all her young-at-heart and fairly young-at-age glory.

"Your mom's the best," Mai idly commented.

"Yeah, I know," Natsuki admitted.

"Finally, you show some sign of intelligence." Nao said dryly.

Mai sighed. "I have work. I'll see you guys later." She debated whether it was wise to leave Nao and Natsuki alone—God knows what trouble they would cause—but she shrugged it off. See no evil, hear no evil.

Natsuki turned to Nao. "I can't believe you told my mom about Shizuru."

"Technically, it was you. I just happened to point out that apparently the apple does not fall far from the tree."

"Forget the stupid apple, you owe me."

Nao sighed grumpily. "What do you want?"

"I'll have to think about it."

"Are you kidding me? Thinking is practically a foreign concept to you!" Nao seethed.

"Well, I'm thinking half the pleasure comes from watching you squirm. You never know what I might ask for." Natsuki smirked.

"Whatever. I'm out of here." Nao stood up and shrugged on her jacket.

"Make sure your phone's charged at all times—I might just ask for a favor in the middle of the night," Natsuki called after the redhead's retreating back. She chuckled when Nao flipped her off.

Natsuki's smile dropped when she realized she was the only person left to pay the bill. Damn it.

Natsuki blearily opened her eyes at the sound of tinny music. The room was completely dark except for the obnoxiously loud ring tone of her illuminated phone. Natsuki glanced at the clock. Who the hell was calling at 1:30 in the freaking morning?

Natsuki swiped up her phone without bothering to look at caller ID. "What."

"Natsukiiii!"

Natsuki bolted upright and looked incredulously at her phone. "Shizuru?"

"That's my name, don't wear it out!" There was a short pause. "Actually, Natsuki can. But nobody else!"

Natsuki rubbed her eyes. "Shizuru, please tell me you're not drunk."

"Okay! I'm not drunk!"

Natsuki face-palmed. "You are. What's the matter, are you in trouble?"

"We want to go home…but I forgot where I parked. It's dark outside. I don't like it." Natsuki could literally see the pout on Shizuru's face.

"Who's 'we'?"

"Me, Haruka, and Yukino!"

"Fucking A," Natsuki grumbled to herself. "Okay, I'll come get you. Where are you?"

"Outside Mikoto Minagi's house."

Natsuki scribbled down the address Shizuru gave her and hung up. She frowned in thought. Her motorcycle wouldn't hold four people, and Mai's car was at the repair shop. That left only one person…

Natsuki went through her contacts and pressed call.

-000-000-

"You know, when you said you might claim your favor in the middle of the night, I thought you were joking," Nao complained.

"Make a left here," Natsuki pointed ahead. "And I was joking, until my girlfriend drunk-dialed me to come pick her up."

"Well, aren't you the knight in shining armor," Nao said sarcastically. "But next time if it involves me being the noble steed, you can tell the princess to go jump off a tower." Her voice trailed off into a yawn.

Natsuki yelped and jerked the steering wheel to the right. A car drove past them with horns blaring, missing them by inches. "Watch the road, moron! You almost killed us!"

"Good. Maybe if we died, I'd finally get some sleep," Nao slurred. She rested her head on the steering wheel.

"No, no, no! Get up!" Natsuki smacked Nao's head. She spotted two girls supporting a third on the curb—Yukino being held up by Shizuru and Haruka. "We're here, stop the car!"

Nao stepped on the brakes. The car jerked to an abrupt stop.

Natsuki got out of the car. "Shizuru?"

The honey-brunette smiled guiltily at Natsuki; the cold night air seemed to have sobered her up. "Ara, it's a nice night out, isn't it?"

"What's wrong with Yukino?" Natsuki raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing! What's wrong with your face?" Haruka bellowed back.

Shizuru burst into giggles. Okay, maybe she hadn't sobered up that much. "We wanted to get Yukino drunk, but I think we overdid it."

Natsuki snapped her fingers in front of Yukino's face. "Yukino, can you hear me? How do you feel?"

Yukino gave Natsuki a goofy smile. "Hey, it's Miss Kuga! I'm feeling super-duper right now. Let me go so I can fly!"

Shizuru and Haruka willingly obliged their friend. Yukino wobbled precariously on her feet before collapsing into Natsuki's arms. Natsuki sighed. "Get in the car."

Yukino and Haruka tumbled into the backseat, but Natsuki stopped Shizuru. "Not you, we need to talk." She closed the door to block out the sounds of Nao threatening the teenagers with painful death if they got sick in her car.

Natsuki scowled fiercely at Shizuru. "Is this a regular thing with you? Getting drunk and walking around Tokyo at night?"

Shizuru pouted. "Natsuki doesn't have to shout, I'm quite capable of hearing."

Natsuki frowned. "What if I didn't come? How would you have gotten home?"

"I would've walked." Shizuru proclaimed.

"Oh, yeah? Which way is north?"

Shizuru pointed upwards. Natsuki sighed. "Shizuru, this is dangerous. What if you got hit by a car, or some pervert decided to take advantage of three drunk girls?"

"Natsuki would save me!" Shizuru sing-songed.

Natsuki rubbed her forehead in frustration, but Shizuru's hand stopped her. The honey-brunette gave her a clumsy kiss. "Natsuki doesn't have to worry, this is the first time this has happened. I don't like getting drunk. Haruka just thought Yukino might be embarrassed if she had been the only drunk one, not to mention the misery of being the only one with a hangover tomorrow morning. It's one for all and all for one!" Shizuru thrust her fist in the air.

Natsuki chuckled despite herself. Drunk Shizuru was pretty damn cute. "Sure, whatever you say, D'Artagnan."

She opened the backseat door for Shizuru. Shizuru caught her wrist just as she was about to close it and gave her a pleading look. "Natsuki isn't going to sit with me?"

Natsuki gave in. How could she resist that look?

Nao glared at Natsuki in the rearview mirror. "If anyone gets sick during this ride, I'm leaving all of you on the side of the highway."

Shizuru cheerfully ignored Nao and seated herself on Natsuki's lap. Natsuki swiftly glanced at Yukino and Haruka, but the two were knocked out cold. "What are their addresses?"

"They're staying at my house. Yukino's parents would kill her if she came home like this, and Haruka goes wherever Yukino goes," Shizuru said before rattling off her address for Nao to follow.

Natsuki frowned. "What about your parents?"

"No one's home, they're out of town again." Shizuru responded glibly.

"They left you alone? What do your parents do for a living?"

"Papa makes people's faces look prettier and Mama designs people's clothes. My entire family likes to do shallow things."

"Oh…I'm sorry to hear that?" Natsuki said awkwardly.

"Yep. That's why I'm going to be a therapist." Shizuru proclaimed happily. She planted a kiss on Natsuki. "My family fixes people's outsides, but I'm going to fix people's insides. Well, not their actual insides, but their feelings-insides—" Shizuru frowned before shrugging it off. "You know what I mean."

Natsuki's response was cut off by a low whistle from Nao. "That's a nice house you got there, Baby Fujino."

Natsuki looked out the window and stared at the luxurious modern townhouse. It looked expensive, well-designed, and oh-so-empty.

Nao opened the door and dragged out a snoring Haruka, draping the girl's arm around her next. "Unlock the door, kid."

Shizuru pulled out her key and unlocked her front door. Natsuki scooped Yukino up in her arms and walked into the Fujino house.

It was clean and well-organized—almost too clean, in Natsuki's opinion. She took off her shoes at the front door, but she felt like she had to check to make sure that her socks weren't leaving marks on the pristine white carpeting.

Nao had dumped Haruka on a bed in what Natsuki assumed to be a guest bedroom, considering the lack of personal furnishings. Natsuki gently laid Yukino down next to the snoring blonde. Shizuru appeared behind her and placed a bottle of aspirin on the bedside table. "They're going to need that in the morning."

Natsuki nodded. "What about you?"

"I think I'll just moan and groan the entire morning until Haruka finally snaps and shoves some painkillers down my throat," Shizuru responded in good humor.

Natsuki chuckled. "Think you'll be able to remember where you parked your car in the morning?" She smiled when Shizuru looked away bashfully. "What?"

"I lied. I remember where I parked," Shizuru admitted. "I just called Natsuki because I wanted to see her." She said this with the blunt honesty that only a drunk person could possess.

Natsuki felt a weird sensation in her stomach, like she had swallowed hot coals or something. She grinned at Shizuru. "Well, I wanted to see you, too."

They both jumped when the car horn sounded. Nao stuck her head out the window and bellowed, "Let's go, Romeo!"

"My parents are having a cocktail party tomorrow. Why don't you come? You can bring your friend," Shizuru suggested.

"Just a friend? Not a date?" Natsuki teased.

"No. I'm Natsuki's date." Shizuru scowled. The childish statement made Natsuki chuckle.

"I thought your parents were out of town?"

"Not for their party." Shizuru gave Natsuki a look that screamed out 'obviously.'

"I'm going to meet your parents?" Natsuki felt nervous at the thought.

"Papa will like you because you're going to be a doctor, and Mama will like you because you're hot. It's my grandmother you have to watch out for, but she's not in Japan at the moment. Shiori won't be there either; she never comes."

Natsuki hesitated. The rational side of her brain was screaming in terror and stating the high risk of getting found out, but her emotional side weirdly wanted to meet Shizuru's parents. "Okay."

Shizuru beamed. "Okay! Good night."

Natsuki gave Shizuru one last kiss and sprinted to Nao's car. Nao peeled away as soon as Natsuki shut the door.

After five minutes, Natsuki noticed Nao giving her weird looks. "What?"

"You look like you're about to shit butterflies," Nao grumpily stated.

Natsuki immediately let her smile drop and shrugged. "The Fujinos are having a cocktail party tomorrow and I need a wingman. You in?"

Nao grinned. "Are you kidding? I came out of the womb ready to party. Fuck yeah, I'm in."

Review, please! I'll count it as my Christmas present :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year's to everyone out there!